Separator for attached or nested articles.



A. E. PIPE & R. L. LAFEVER.

SEPARATOR FOR ATTACHED 0R NESTED ARTICLES.

APPLICATlON FILED FEB. 23. 1915.

1,149,595. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

3mm!!! .1 5 WII/lli 10 v/ w f \s 1 41m 53 m4 WITNESSES; 7 INVENTOR.

972. 7%, By CV 7% Z W 7 A TTORNE YS.

' elevation'of some of the confection papers V NH" STATES ATEN orrron.

ARTHUR E. PIPE AND ROBERT L. LAFEVER, OF SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH.

SEPABATOR FOR ATTACHED OR NESTED ARTICLE.

Specification of Letters latent. Patented A 10 1915;

Application filed February 23; 1915. Serial No. 10,137.

ods for separating nested articles and has.

for its'object to provide a device to mechanically separate the nestedpieces of paper in. which confections and other similar articles arewrapped, and particularly to separate the small frusto-conioally shapedcups inwhlch chocolates and similar confections are carried. Theseobjects we accomplish with the device illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in whichsimilar letters and numerals of reference indicate likeparts throughout the several figures, and as described in thespecification forming a part of this application and pointed out in theappended claims.

In the drawings in which we have shown a substantial embodiment of ourinvention, Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the device parts cutaway, and parts shown in dotted lines. nal section through the device.Fig. 3 is an bunched and nested as sold to the candy manufacturer. Fig.4 is a view in perspective of one of the individual confection cups.

To economically cut and form the indi-- vidual p cups inwhich chocolatesand gs 8 to maintain it above the floor ofth similar confections are nowpacked, the sheets of paper from which they are out are stacked inbunches of fifteen or more, and by means of dies circular pieces are outand then crimped and pressed by machinery into the frusto-conioallyshaped bunches similar to those shown in Fig. 3. These bunches arenested, packed into boxes and sold to the candy manufacturer in bulk.When the manufacturer desires to use said cups they must be separated inorder that each piece of candy may be placed in its individual cup. Thework of separating these cups has heretofore been by manual labor, moretedious than laborious and requiring close attention. Our device doesthis work mechanicallv and much cheaper than it can be done by hand,thus expediting the work of packing the candy and at a saving of labor.

Fig. 2 is avertical longitudi-v WVe provide a rectangularly shaped boxor receptacle A, a portion of the top of which is hlnged as at'BlThrough one end of said box A, and at near the center thereof we insertan air pipe C. Across the lower opposlte corner of said box A we providea curved sheet of metal 1, and wefill the remaining portion of thebottom'of said box A with a horizontal piece 2, preferably made of wood,with the corner adjacent said curved sheet of metal cut off as at 3, andforming an incline of about 30 degrees and meeting the lower end of thecurved surface of said sheet 1. An adjustable gate or slide valve 4 isprovided in and across said box A and setat an'incline, with itslowerend, if extended, b-isecting the curve of said sheet 1. Thls gate01' valve piece acts as a baflie to the air currents and also to thebunches .of paper cups, and is to be raised or lowered to regulate theescape or discharge of the individual cups after they are separated. Inthe upper'side of said box A and back of said gate 4 an opening is cutin the top preferably circular in form and about six inches in diameter,and adischargepipe 5 with its greater portion of slightly less diameterthan the said opening connects said box A with a contiguousreceiving-box or receptacle D. This box discharges through an opening inthe bottom which'is provided with a slide or covering 6. An air vent 7is provided in the upper portion of said box D which is fittedwith aslide or cover by which the air currents are regulated. In order toremove 'thelseparated cups from said box D room, and for convenience inregulating the said gate 4 a portion of the top of said box D is hingedas a door 9.

a The operation of our device is as follows :An air current is allowedto flow through the pipe C, from a power driven blower or aircompressor, not shown and of any of the well known makes, and throughthe said boxes A and D to the exit as regulated through the vent 7Nestedbunches of said paper cups 10 are dumped into said box A, throughthe'doorB, andthe said door closed, as shownin Fig. 2. The current ofair will drive said bunches 10 against the gate 4, with force enough tocause them to separate, first into the pressed bunches of fifteen ormore, as they are manufactured, second, each pressed bunch will be againof said gate and as directed by the curved sheet 1, through the'pipe 5into the receiving box D. The weight ofcthebunched cups,

even when only two are yet together is suiiicient to "retaintheminthe'box A, where the bunchesare subjected to the rolling, tumbling-andknocking action of thestronger air currents until they separate. Thestronger; air currents are directed within the lower portionoit' saidbox A, as shown by the arrows, by the gate 4 and the incline 3, and rolland tumble the bunches around until they separate, when separated theindividual cups will float or be carried'in the Y upper portion of saidbox by the more gentle air currents until they escape from under thegate 4. The air currents passing under the-said gate and through thepipe 5 are and the'cups a are removed for use.

regulated by the vent 7 Then sufficient numbers of the individual cups aare deposited in the receiving box D the air currents are cut oil" andthe slide door 6 is opened, The flO\V:Of the air and the height of saidgate 4 lto properly regulate the movement of the individualcups a may beobserved by the :operator through the said door 9 in the action onsaidcups as they fall into the said boxD.

*T Having thus described our invention we desire to secure by LettersPatent and 1-. A device for separating nested articles, consisting of areceptacle; an air pipe alined 1' horizontally central to saidreceptacle; an inclined adjustable gate partitioning said receptacle ;adischarge pipe connecting the upper "portion of one division of said re-:ceptacle with a receiving box; and means to direct and regulate a flowof air through said receptacle and box, said means consistof'a curvedmember in the bottom corner of said receptacle'and an air vent in thereceiving box.

2. A device for separating nested articles which consists of areceptacle; an air pipe entering the central portion of one end of saidreceptacle; an inclined adjustable gate partitioning said receptacle; adischarge pipe connecting the upper portion of one division of saidreceptacle with a receiving I box; and means to direct and regulate aflow of air through said receptacle and box, said means consisting of acurved member filling the lower corner of said receptacle opposite theair pipe entrance; a portion of the bottom of said .receptacle inclinedupward; and an adjustable vent in the upper portion of said receivingbox.

3. A device for separating nested articles, consisting of a rectangularbox; an air pipe entering said box atone end; an inclined adjustablegate dividing said box into two compartments; a portion of the bottom ofsaid box inclined from said gate; the corner of said box adjacent thebottom of said gate filled with a curved member; a discharge pipeleading from back of said gate to a receiving box; a receiving boxadjacent said rectangular box and connected by said discharge pipe; andan air regulating vent in said receiving box. e

' 4. The method of separating attached articles, which consists ofmoving attached articles about within a receptacle by directed aircurrents until said articles separate, and then floating and carryingsaid individual articles I by reduced air currents from said receptacleinto a receiving box, without interrupting the separating process. 5.The method of separating nested articles, which consists of movingbundles of said articles about within a closed box by H Copies of thispatent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing theCommissioner of Patents,

V Washington,1).0. Y

